Ros-lehtinen, Diaz-balart Wrong To Oppose Cuban Aid Proposal . . .

January 31, 1998

The poorest people of Cuba obviously need food and medicine, as do political prisoners unfairly jailed by Fidel Castro. A surprising plan to send food to Cuba has emerged from an unlikely source, the Cuban American National Foundation, but is opposed by two Cuban-Americans in Congress who are out-of-step with changing attitudes in South Florida.

U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart, both Miami Republicans, seem stuck in an outmoded way of looking at Cuba. While others, including the usually hard-line foundation, have begun to realize the U.S. embargo punishes Cuba's poor much more than it harms Castro, the two members of Congress obstinately resist that powerful logic.

Ros-Lehtinen and Diaz-Balart ought to clear their vision and look ahead, instead of remaining prisoners of the past. After more than three decades of the U.S. embargo, dictator Castro is still firmly in control of Cuba and has allowed only minor changes in the way people work and live.

If that's not a resounding failure of U.S. policy, what is? The attempt to isolate Cuba hasn't succeeded, and impartial observers realize the best way to bring down Castro is to trade with the island nation and expose its people to the realities and benefits of democracy and the free market.

Foundation leaders contended their plan wasn't a reaction to the words of Pope John Paul II, who criticized the embargo _ as well as many of Castro's actions _ during his recent trip to Cuba. The timing, though, demonstrates foundation leaders listened to the pope, and they acknowledged his words focused attention on the need to help the poorest Cubans.

Even U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, as implacable an opponent of Castro as the most intransigent Cuban-American, supports the food plan. Jesse Helms! How can Ros-Lehtinen and Diaz-Balart place themselves to the right of Helms? There's no room.

The foundation's plan lacks some details and requires more work. Supposedly the Red Cross would deliver meals to Cubans on the island, but the private agency knew little about the plan and hadn't been formally approached to take part.

Who would pay for the food? Helms urged U.S. businesses to donate food, or money to buy it, while the foundation wants to rely on American tax dollars.

Private donations would be best, but if they're insufficient, Congress ought to look for money to make sure the aid meets at least immediate needs in Cuba.

There's also a question of whether Castro would accept donated food, or erect as many obstacles to the plan as Ros-Lehtinen and Diaz-Balart have done. Absent a complete end of the embargo, the dictator might delay or stop the food.

The plan, though, should be tried, and it could be dangerous to wait too long. Cuba's poorest people need help, soon.